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Pressing her back on the bed, Harry loo quicken as he settled between her thighs But he didn’t try to enter her, only let her feel the pressure of hiainst the soft feminine rise He kne to tease, how to entlest inti dampness and sweetly vulnerable flesh, and then he rotated his hps slowly, every

Her lashes half lowered, and there was a faint, intent pull between her fine browsshe wanted what he was giving her, she wanted the tension and torht a mist of perspiration over her skin, until the scent of roses deepened and acquired a hint ofand heady that he could have let hiht then But he rolled to his side, away fro cradle of her hips

He slid his hand over her ain, his touch coaxing and careful This ti her throat, he caught the vibration of every an around his knuckles as he thrust his fingers in her oh so gently Every time she took them to the hilt, he let the heel of his hand brush her intian to lift upward repeatedly

"Yes," Harry whispered, letting his hot breath fill the shell of her ear "Yes When I’m inside you, this is how you ive it to you, asas you want"

She cla in erotic shivers He teased out every last luscious ripple, relishing her clax, lost in the feel of her

Levering his body over hers, he pushed her thighs wide and lowered hiun to close, he centered hi altogether He pushed into the resisting ring, finding it even more difficult than he’d expected despite the abundant moisture

Poppy whi

"Hold ontoaround his neck He reached down and pulled her hps upward, trying to make it easier for her as he pressed deeper, harder, her flesh unbelievably tight and hot and sweet, and he gave her more, unable to help himself, until he was fully buried in the soft heat of her

"Oh, God," he whispered, shaking with the effort to hold still, to let her adjust around him

Every nerve cla friction that would bring his straining on either side of his He waited longer, caressing her with his hands

"Don’t stop," she choked "It’s all right"

But it wasn’t He pushed again, and a pained sound escaped her Again, and she braced and clenched her teeth Every tirip on his neck, Harry drew back far enough to look at her face Poppy hite with distress, her lips bloodless Holy hell, was it this painful for all virgins?

"I’ll wait," he said raggedly "It will be easier in a htly shut

And they both held still and fast, while he tried to soothe her But nothing changed Despite Poppy’s compliance, this was sheer misery for her

Harry buried his face in her hair and cursed And he withdrew, despite the vicious protest of his loins, when every impulse screaasp of relief as the painful intrusion was re the sound, Harry nearly exploded with murderous frustration

He heard herher, Harry left the bed and staggered toward the bathing room He braced his hands on the tiled wall and closed his eyes, struggling for self-control After a few minutes, he dreater and washed himself He found smears of bloodPoppy’s blood That was only to be expected But the sight of ithe wanted on earth was to cause his wife even aher, no matter what the consequences to himself

Dear God, what had happened to him? He had never wanted to feel this way about anyone, never even iined it possible

He had to make it stop

Sore and bewildered, Poppy lay on her side and listened to the sounds of Harry washing It burned where he had taken her The residue of blood was sticky between her thighs She wanted to leave the bed and wash as well, but the thought of perfor such an intimate task in front of Harryno, she wasn’t ready for that yet And she was unsure, because even in her innocence, she knew that he had not finishedshe should have done?

Had she made some kind of mistake? Perhaps she should have been more stoic She had tried her best, but it had hurt dreadfully, even though Harry had been gentle Surely he knew that it was painful for a virgin the first ti inadequate and defensive, Poppy crept froown She put it on and hastily retreated beneath the covers as Harry came back into the rooan to dress

"You’re going out?" she heard herself ask

Harry didn’t look at her "Yes"

"Stay with me," she blurted out

Harry shook his head "I can’t We’ll talk later But right now I--" He broke off as if words failed hies of the bedclothes So--she couldn’t fatho on his coat, Harry started for the doorway

"Where are you going?" Poppy asked unsteadily

He sounded distant "I don’t know"

"When will you--"

"I don’t know that, either"

She waited until he had left before she let a few tears slip out, and she blotted the to another woman?

Miserably, she reflected that her sister Win’s advice about marital relations had been insufficient There should have been a bit less about roses and ht and a bit more practical information

She wanted to see her sisters, especially Amelia She wanted her family, ould pet and praise and make much of her, and offer the reassurance she badly needed It was e after a mere three weeks

Most of all, she needed advice about husbands

Yes, it was tio to Ha flesh and eased the strainedand powdering herself, she dressed in a wine-colored traveling gown She packed a few belongings in a ss, a silver-backed brush, a novel, and an automaton that Harry had made--a little woodpecker on a tree trunk--which she usually kept on her dressing table However, she left the dia the velvet-lined case in a drawer

When she was ready to depart, she rang the bellpull and sent ano effort toclothes "May I be of service, Mrs Rutledge?"

"Mr Valentine, hashis forehead

"Did he tell you when he would return?"

"No, ma’am"

Poppy wondered if she could trust him His loyalty to Harry ell-known However, she had no choice but to ask for his help "I must ask a favor of you, Mr Valentine However, I fear it may put you in a difficult position"